Table Of ContentWhen citing an abstract from the 2014 annual meeting please use the format below.
[Authors]. [Abstract Title]. Program No. XXX.XX. 2014 Neuroscience Meeting Planner.
Washington, DC: Society for Neuroscience, 2014. Online.
2014 Copyright by the Society for Neuroscience all rights reserved. Permission to republish any
abstract or part of any abstract in any form must be obtained in writing by SfN office prior to
publication.
Professional Development Workshops
PDW01. Neurobiology of Disease Workshop: Stroke Recovery: Connecting
Neuroimmunology, Regeneration, and Engineering to Restore Functional Circuits
Location: Ballroom C
Time: Friday, November 14, 2014, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Support contributed by National Institute of Neurological Disease and Stroke (NINDS)
Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide. From stem cells to brain-computer
interfaces, novel functional neuroimaging techniques to new animal model approaches, stroke
research is pushing the boundaries of neuroscience. The aim of this workshop is to review stroke
research concepts beyond the acute injury setting, exploring efforts to define and promote
productive long-term recovery. Participants will gain an understanding of stroke through a live
patient presentation, and learn from leading experts how multiple disciplines within neuroscience
are being utilized to expand our knowledge of the brain’s damage and recovery pathways. The
course will also frame and explore exciting unanswered research questions, and bring together
mechanism based and treatment based research areas. Topics that will be covered include the
molecular biology of post-stroke plasticity, early and late consequences of neuroinflammation
after stroke, stem cell therapies for stroke, novel MRI techniques to study and promote recovery,
engineering brain-machine interfaces, modeling recovery in animals, the effects of gender and
comorbidities on stroke outcomes and the neurovascular unit. In addition to didactic sessions, the
workshop includes opportunities for students and faculty to informally network in small group
discussions and at lunch and an evening reception. This workshop aims to stimulate interest in
stoke recovery among researchers in training and those new to the field. Target audience:
graduate and postdoctoral students and junior faculty.
Neurobiology of Disease Workshop Fees: $35
(Includes breakfast, lunch, and reception)
Note: Preregistration is required for Neurobiology of Disease workshop. Visit SfN.org to
register.
Contact: [email protected]
Organizer/Moderator: *M. S. BUCKWALTER;
Neurol., Stanford Med. Sch., STANFORD, CA
Organizer/Moderator: *C. M. TESTA;
Dept of Neurol., Emory Univ., Atlanta, GA
Professional Development Workshops
PDW02. Short Course #1: Advances in Multineuronal Monitoring of Brain Activity
Location: Ballroom A
Time: Friday, November 14, 2014, 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM
New tools for measuring the activity of entire neuronal populations at single-cell resolution are
quickly advancing our knowledge of the macro- and micro- circuits that support mammalian
behavior. For instance, genetically encoded sensors delivered virally or transgenically allow
monitoring of spiking and synaptic activity in specific cell types while optical prisms allow
simultaneous two-photon functional imaging of all layers of the neocortex. Single neuron
responses can now be imaged simultaneously across multiple brain areas or in a 3-D volume.
New strategies are also being devised for single neuron resolution imaging in the macaque
monkey brain. Finally, state-of-the-art, multi-electrode recordings are still a gold standard to
monitor neuronal populations in behaving animals.
Short Course Fees
(Includes lunch and syllabus book)
Student member............$140
Student nonmember.........$170
Postdoctoral member.......$210
Postdoctoral nonmember....$255
Faculty member............$275
Faculty nonmember.........$335
Note: Preregistration is required for all Short Courses. Visit SfN.org to register.
Contact: [email protected]
Organizer/Moderator: *P. KARA;
Neurosci., MUSC, CHARLESTON, SC
Professional Development Workshops
PDW03. Short Course #2: Advances in Brain-Scale, Automated Anatomical Techniques:
Neuronal Reconstruction, Tract Tracing, and Atlasing
Location: Ballroom B
Time: Friday, November 14, 2014, 8:30 AM - 6:30 PM
Brain-wide images with high resolution are becoming feasible to rapidly generate with light
microscopy, and computational methods are being developed to extract knowledge from this
data. Cytoarchitectonics is being modernized by the ability to acquire and analyze the locations
of all cell bodies. Reconstruction of entire axonal and dendritic arbors is becoming possible.
Information about molecular identity can be overlaid on reconstructions. Methods of trans-
synaptic tracing are becoming practically useful for tackling important scientific questions.
Computational techniques of brain atlasing allow the alignment of all data to a common
coordinate system. All these advances are driving a renaissance of anatomy at the light
microscopic level. This short course will survey emerging methods and scientific applications, as
well as provide "how-to" tutorials.
Short Course Fees
(Includes lunch and syllabus book)
Student member............$140
Student nonmember.........$170
Postdoctoral member.......$210
Postdoctoral nonmember....$255
Faculty member............$275
Faculty nonmember.........$335
Note: Preregistration is required for all Short Courses. Visit SfN.org to register.
Contact: [email protected]
Organizer/Moderator: *H. SEUNG;
Brain & Cog Sci. Dept., MIT, CAMBRIDGE, MA
Professional Development Workshops
PDW04. Meet-the-Expert: Session 1
Location: Renaissance Washington, DC: Meeting Rooms 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 12
Time: Saturday, November 15, 2014, 8:00 AM - 9:15 AM
John Donoghue, PhD
From Brain to BrainGate and Back: Moving Between Basic and Applied Neuroscience
Neuroscience research is driven by desire, both to understand how neurons and nervous systems
function and to use that knowledge to better the lives of those who have, or may acquire, nervous
systems disorders. Neuroscience research is driving the development of new tools that expand
our ability to investigate animal models and human brains, as well as provide innovative new
approaches to treat disorders and restore lost function. BrainGate, a brain-computer interface
(BCI) technology, is an example of a human application of knowledge and tools that emerged
from a basic neuroscience lab and enabled pilot human clinical trials of a BCI. The BrainGate
system is being created to help people with paralysis gain independence and control. I will
describe how the quest to understand how cortical circuits generate behavior led to the BrainGate
project, and how this project is opening a door to human cortical function not previously
available. The path led a neurobiologist into the startup world and back to an interdisciplinary
group in an academic research program that is a fledgling model for human neuroscience.
Julie Fiez, PhD
Building a Program of Interdisciplinary Research That Bridges Neuroscience and Education
The past 25 years has seen tremendous growth in the field of cognitive neuroscience. This
growth has created the opportunity to build exciting new bridges between the fields of education,
psychology, and neuroscience. This presentation will consider how both a "clinical" and an
"engineering" approach to educational neuroscience can yield important advances, with
supporting examples drawn from the domains of reading and math. The challenges and
opportunities that come from interdisciplinary collaborations will be discussed from a personal
perspective. This will include a consideration of funding agencies that support educational
neuroscience research and how proposal styles and review processes differ across funding
agencies.
Samer Hattar, PhD
Dogmas are There to be Broken: New Photoreceptors in Your Eye
The mammalian retina has been studied for nearly a century and a half. Up until recently, rods
and cones were thought to be the only photoreceptors. In this session, I will highlight the
evidence for the presence of the non-rod/non-cone photoreceptors starting from early studies in
the late 1920s up to the point of discovery in 2002. I will present the skepticism surrounding the
discovery of the non-rod/non-cone photoreceptors and provide the history on their discovery
highlighting important lessons to be learned. These non-rod/non-cone photoreceptors are now
known as intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs). They have wide effects on
light-mediated behaviors that include circadian rhythms, sleep, and mood.
Helen Mayberg, MD
Studying Human Neuropsychiatric Disease Circuits From a Therapy Perspective
In this session, emerging strategies to test systems-levels models of neuropsychiatric disorders
will be discussed. A case-study approach will be used to illustrate the evolution of deep brain
stimulation for treatment-resistant depression and the critical role of functional neuroimaging,
animal models, and neuroengineering innovations to further refine this experimental
intervention. Additionally, the bidirectional, translational potential of this platform for
understanding both disease pathophysiology and treatment mechanisms of action will be
emphasized.
Peter Strick, PhD
The Mind–Body Connection
We have long been faced with the challenge of unraveling the complex matrix of connections
that allows the “mind” (the central nervous system) to control the “body” (muscles and organs).
The development of techniques for using neurotropic viruses as transneuronal tracers has made it
possible to begin to map these connections in detail. Retrograde trans-synaptic transport of rabies
virus from single limb muscles has revealed fundamental features about the circuits for voluntary
movement. Transneuronal transport of the virus from the adrenal medulla is defining the “stress
and depression connectome.” Transneuronal tracing of multi-synaptic networks holds the
promise of revealing the neural substrate for the top-down control of body function.
Feng Zhang, PhD
Editing the Genome to Understand Genetic Contributions of Disease
From yogurt bacteria to genome editing, in this discussion we will look at the development and
applications of the Cas9 nuclease from the microbial immune system CRISPR for making
precise alteration of the mammalian genome. This new technology is enabling the generation of
more realistic disease models and broadening the number of genetically-tractable organisms that
can be used to study a variety of neurological processes. The Cas9 nuclease can also be modified
to modulate transcription, alter epigenetic states, and track the dynamics of chromatin in living
cells. We will also look at the on-going challenges as well as future prospects of the technology.
Professional Development Workshops
PDW05. Careers Beyond the Bench
Location: 207A
Time: Saturday, November 15, 2014, 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Organizer/Moderator: Paul Calvo, PhD; Lique Coolen, PhD; Rae Nishi, PhD; Sally J. Rockey,
PhD
The ‘Careers Beyond the Bench’ workshop will focus on crafting your individual career
trajectory in a non-academic setting. An emphasis will be placed on building credentials for
successful job-seeking, strategies for networking and providing tips for a smooth transition from
an academic setting. Panelists will address the following topics: 1.The importance of creating an
“individual development plan” for careers outside of academia. 2.How to talk to your advisor
about a career shift: timing and best practices. 3. Undertaking the job search: the value of
networking, working with recruiters or considering another degree. 4. The relative effectiveness
of social media and face-to-face networking in making a career transition.
Contact: [email protected]
Organizer/Moderator: *E. J. VAN BOCKSTAELE;
Neurosci., Thomas Jefferson Univ., PHILADELPHIA, PA
Professional Development Workshops
PDW06. Success in Academia: Different Strategies for Different Stages
Location: 207B
Time: Saturday, November 15, 2014, 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Panelists: Margaret McCarthy, PhD; Eric Nestler, MD, PhD; Marina Picciotto, PhD; Kerry
Ressler, MD, PhD; Catherine Woolley, PhD
This panel of neuroscientist leaders in academia will entail a lively and interactive discussion
with panelists providing their creative and effective ways to attain success in academic life;
success being termed many different ways, but encompassing funding, publishing, teaching,
personnel management, administration, time management, and of course, work/life balance. You
already know you need to work hard, but what are some tricks of the trade? How do you
prioritize? Saying Yes and saying No – how do you decide? Being an academic and a parent -
now what? Bring your questions, and the panel will try to provide some answers.
Contact: [email protected]
Organizer/Moderator: *T. L. BALE;
Dept Animal Biol, Univ. Pennsylvania, PHILADELPHIA, PA
Professional Development Workshops
PDW07. Meet-the-Expert: Session 2
Location: Renaissance Washington, DC: Meeting Rooms 2, 4, 5, 8, 9
Time: Saturday, November 15, 2014, 9:30 AM - 10:45 AM
Rui M. Costa, DVM, PhD
The Acting Brain
Animal behavior has fascinated me since childhood. How are certain behaviors transmitted
between generations based on a genetic code? And especially, how are new behaviors learned
throughout life to build the unique repertoires of an individual? I will argue that the generation of
new behavior is one of the most important and fascinating functions of the nervous system. We
will discuss how the conceptual framework to study the neural bases of learned actions has
evolved in the laboratory, and how it led us to focus on asking how novel actions are generated,
how they are then shaped, and why they are being performed. We will also discuss if and when
new tools may enable new research and concepts.
Diane Lipscombe, PhD
I Wanted to be a Detective but Discovered Neuroscience and Limitless Unsolved Mysteries
Support contributed by: Emory University/Yerkes National Primate Research Center
It never gets old to watch single channel currents, in real time, in a stochastic dance across the
screen. The more you watch the more you see – an unquestionable truism in science and an
especially apt description of my current research on cell-specific control of calcium ion channel
splicing. Calcium ion channel genes have the capacity to generate numerous isoforms but does
each have unique function? I will review our experimental approaches, including exon-specific
targeting, asking if individual sites of alternative splicing impact behavior and if isoforms have
therapeutic value.
Mark Schnitzer, PhD
Support contributed by Optical Imaging Ltd.
Large-Scale Optical Imaging of Ensemble Neural Activity in Freely Behaving Animals
Recently, there has been substantial progress in optical imaging studies in freely behaving
rodents, allowing neuroscientists to monitor the dynamics of up to ~1000 neurons per animal
during active behavior, over extended periods of weeks. This session will discuss the relevant
optical imaging methodologies and data analysis methods, as well as their application in a
variety of brain areas to studies of large-scale neural coding, long-term memory, and disease
models. The presentation will also include an overview of Schnitzer's personal path from
physicist to systems neuroscientist, and how technologies started in his lab have reached
commercialization.
Michal Schwartz, PhD
Breaking the Conceptual Walls Between the Brain and the Immune System: Implications for
Aging and Neurodegenerative Diseases
We were pioneers discovering that circulating immune cells support brain plasticity in health,
disease, and aging. Resolution of neuroinflammation in neurodegenerative diseases necessitates
inflammation-resolving cell recruitment, orchestrated by brain-specific T cells (“Protective
autoimmunity”), and requires circulating macrophages. The nexus of these activities lies at the
brain’s choroid plexus (CP), identified by us as a selective gate for “healing” leukocyte
infiltration to the CNS, offering a novel target for modifying brain aging and neurodegenerative
diseases.
Kenton Swartz, PhD
Exploring Ion Channel Structures and Gating Mechanisms Using Tarantula Toxins
My laboratory uses a growing collection of electrophysiological, molecular and biophysical
technologies to investigate the structure and operational mechanisms of voltage-activated ion
channels, ATP-activated P2X receptors, and, more recently, transient receptor potential (TRP)
channels. We have been particularly interested in isolating protein toxins from venomous
organisms and using them to investigate ion channel mechanisms. I will give an overview of the
work we have done in this area, including our earlier work on voltage-sensor toxins and our
latest results using toxins to explore gating and thermosensation in TRP channels, and discuss
emerging roles of lipid membranes for these ion channels. I will also talk about my personal
perspective on the process of science and what continues to excite me about the questions my
laboratory has explored over the past 15 years.
Professional Development Workshops
PDW08. Getting the Most out of SfN: The Annual Meeting and Beyond
Location: 207A
Time: Saturday, November 15, 2014, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Panelists: Cara Altimus, PhD; Lori McMahon, PhD; David Riddle, PhD; Jeffrey Smith, PhD;
Hermes Yeh, PhD
Students, postdocs, and others new to the SfN annual meeting are invited to this session where
experienced participants will share tips on how to get the most out of your annual meeting
experience, both during and after Neuroscience 2014. Whether you are looking for networking
strategies or simply ways to make your experience productive and enjoyable, this session will be
beneficial. Representatives from the SfN Program Committee, SfN Committee on Neuroscience
Departments and Programs, the Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience, and an institutional
postdoctoral association will provide strategies for navigating the annual meeting, discuss
professional development tools available during and after the meeting, suggest ways to find and
use a mentor, and answer questions from session participants.
Contact: [email protected]
Organizer/Moderator: *D. R. RIDDLE;
Dept. Biomed. Sci., Western Michigan Univ. Homer Stryker M.D. Sch., Kalamazoo, MI
Organizer/Moderator: *J. C. SMITH;
Cell. and Systems Neurobio. Section, NINDS, NIH, Bethesda, MD
Organizer/Moderator: *H. H. YEH;
Physiol. and Neurobio., Geisel Sch. of Med. at Dartmouth, LEBANON, NH
Meetings and Events
ME01. Graduate School Fair
Location: Hall E
Time: Saturday, November 15, 2014, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Meet face-to-face with student advisors, program faculty, and graduate school representatives at
the third annual Gradual School Fair.
Contact: [email protected]
Meetings and Events
ME02. Brain Awareness Campaign Event: Communicate Your Science
Location: Hall E
Time: Saturday, November 15, 2014, 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Celebrate Brain Awareness and share your outreach achievements with BAW organizers from
around the world! Applaud the winners of the Brain Awareness Video Contest and other
education awards. Hear from Jay Giedd, professor at the National Institute of Mental Health and
winner of SfN’s 2013 Science Educator Award, about the importance of effective science
communication. Contact [email protected] by October 3rd to present a poster on your educational
outreach activities.
Contact: [email protected]
Description:brain's choroid plexus (CP), identified by us as a selective gate for “healing” leukocyte infiltration to .. private sector, non-profit, and crowdfunding?
